In Morocco, soaring mutton prices are sparking widespread public outrage ahead of Eid al-Adha, scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Moroccan newspapers are unanimous: livestock has become prohibitively expensive. On average, sheep meat prices have doubled compared to 2020. This major crisis is largely due to the collapse of local livestock numbers in recent years, caused by successive and severe droughts. The situation had even prompted King Mohammed VI, in a rare move in 2025, to urge citizens to refrain from performing the ritual sacrifice. Although no such royal directive has been issued for 2026, the price surge remains unchecked in markets and at butchers' shops.

Record prices recorded in major cities of the Kingdom

According to reports in the Moroccan press in mid-May, the price of live sheep reached alarmingly high levels across different regions. In Tangier, a sheep was selling for up to 8,000 dirhams, or approximately 750 euros (nearly 492,000 CFA francs). In Fez, prices climbed to 10,000 dirhams, or 930 euros (approximately 610,000 CFA francs). The highest price was recorded in Casablanca, where prices reached 12,000 dirhams, equivalent to 1,120 euros (over 734,600 CFA francs). Faced with this social crisis, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch issued a decree prohibiting the sale of sheep outside of authorized official channels, a belated measure intended to protect household purchasing power.

This government response is deemed insufficient by some national media outlets, which accuse the government of inaction. The weekly magazine TelQuel, in its May 15 and 22 editions, openly describes the situation as a "state scandal" and criticizes the head of government for having "fleeced Moroccans." The newspaper points to the ineffectiveness of massive public aid: since 2022, no less than 13 billion dirhams in exemptions and subsidies—approximately 1.2 billion euros or over 787 billion CFA francs—have been granted to 277 companies importing sheep and red meat. Intended to alleviate pressure on Moroccan livestock and prevent price increases, this measure has not stopped the current speculation.